Birthdays unite rivals

While the JMM patriarch entered 70, JVM men ushered in Marandi’s 56th birthday.

“The occasion is being celebrated by the party as samarpan saptah. Beginning today, blood donation camps will be held at the district headquarters around the state till January 17,” said JVM youth wing president Santosh Kumar.

Kumar said blood donation camps were held in places like Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Seraikela-Kharsawan and similar camps would be held in the other district headquarters during the week.

In Ranchi, blood donation camps were held at the headquarters of JVM and at the residence of Soren. Trained staff from RIMS collected blood from donors at both camps.

While Marandi was in Bhavnathpur to address a gathering of partymen, Soren chose to stay at his Morabadi residence and met his supporters from various districts.

“He (Soren) was very cheerful. We wished him a long life and took blessings. For today, politics was kept at bay,” said JMM central committee member Supriya Bhattacharya.